GoCampingAmerica.com | Posted August
    25th, 2021

               

    RVing 101:  HOW and WHY to Choose the Right Size
    Campsite for Your Rig

               

    Happy Camper Blog

             

             
               
                 

    Even if you’re
    new to RVing, you’ve probably already learned that RVs come in many different
    configurations. There are motorized RVs that range in size from Class A
    (21-43 feet) to Class B (16-21 feet) to Class C (25-35 feet). Then there are
    the “towables” that require the use of a tow vehicle and include travel
    trailers (20-36 feet), 5th wheels (21-40 feet) and teardrops (13-20 feet).
    Some RVs even include a “toy hauler” which serves as a garage for carrying
    recreational equipment like bikes, kayaks and ATVs.

    No matter which one of these you choose to buy or rent, it’s
    essential that you book a campsite that has been designed to accommodate your
    type of rig. Here are a few helpful tips:

    DO familiarize yourself with your rig’s actual
    dimensions.
    You may be surprised to learn that you can’t just
    go by the size printed on the vehicle’s door. That number actually relates
    more to the RV’s floor plan. John Tinelli, owner
    of Triple R Camping Resort in Franklinville,
    N.Y. offers several examples.

    “A camper that says 39RBDS on the door is NOT 39 feet long and you
    should NOT book your sites that way,” he says. “If you have a fifth wheel
    that says 39 something on the door, you are typically 43.5 feet long. If you
    have a travel trailer and it says 39 something on your door, you are most
    likely 43 feet long. If you have a motor home and it says 39 something on
    your door, you are most likely 42 feet long—or longer. And if you have a toy
    hauler and you have a rear deck and it says 39 something on your door, you
    are most likely over 50 feet long.”

    Before you book your campsite, be sure to measure your RV from
    front to back, bumper to bumper, including the trailer hitch, if applicable.
    You should also know the side-to-side measurement, including any slideouts,
    since those can add up to six feet in width. If you don’t have time to
    measure it yourself, you can go to your manufacturer’s website or the website
    for the National Automobile Dealers Association (nada.com) and look up your
    specific model.

    DON’T book a site that’s intended for a smaller
    unit.
    Let’s say you have a motorhome that’s 45 feet long, but
    all of those sites are sold out at your chosen campground. So you decide to
    book a campsite designed for a 37-foot rig because the site looks big enough
    to fit your rig anyway, right? Not so fast. There are good reasons campground
    owners state the maximum size that any site can accommodate. One of them is
    the turning radius needed to get into the site. Another is that the
    infrastructure of the site (how deep the utilities are buried) may not be
    able to handle a heavier vehicle. The third reason is there may not be enough
    electrical power available at the site to handle all the demands of a larger
    rig.

    The consequences of trying to fit into the wrong-sized campsite
    are not pretty. Campground owners have reported having their sewer or water
    lines crushed, gates torn out, utility pedestals hit and even pool fences
    ripped out. No one, not campers or campground owners, want to see these
    things happen. And if you do cause damage, you (or your insurance company)
    will have to bear the cost.

    Also keep in mind that if you book a site that’s too small and
    don’t realize that you can’t fit into it until you arrive, you may still be
    liable for the cost of your reservation, since the campground won’t likely be
    able to rebook the site on such short notice.

    Fortunately, there’s an easy way to avoid booking the wrong size
    site for your type of rig. Enter your destination now and
    you’ll find many great campgrounds ready to help you choose the right site
    for your needs.